Framework systems



J. COLLINS June 6, 1967 FRAMEWORK 5 Y5 TEM S 4 Sheets-Sheet l FiledMarch 16. 1964 J. COLLINS June 6, 1967 FRAMEWORK SYSTEMS Filed March 119 4 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 J 1967' J. COLLINS FRAMEWORK SYSTEMS 4Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 16, 1964 June 6,1967 3,323,271

v FRAMEWORK SYSTEMS Filed March 16, 1964 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 UnitedStates Patent M Claims priority, application Great Britain, Mar. 19,1963,

10,755/63 2 Claims. (Cl. 52638) This invention relates to metalframework systems as used for temporary and permanent building and likeconstructional purposes and has been devised with the object ofproviding an inproved heavy scaffolding, shore, tower or other frameworksystem which is less costly than existing systems and which is capableof being readily assembled without benefit of special tools, clamping orlocking devices and so forth.

The invention accordingly consists in a frame unit for incorporation inametal framework system and comprising a pair of parallel uprights whichare connected by at least one cross member having enlarged flat endportions extending in a vertical plane for supporting the ends ofadditional members by which adjoining frame units are connected to oneanother.

The invention also consists in a framework system comprising frame unitsas above in combination with a plurality of horizontal or obliquelyextending frame unit connecting members having claw portions at theirends adapted to engage with the flat end portions of the frame unitcross members.

Moreover, each frame unit is preferably equipped with means forpreventing accidental disengagement of the claw portions from the flatend portions of the or each cross member, and such means may be slidablyengaged on the cross members.

Each frame unit preferably also has a pair of welded cross bracesextending across its centre and these cross braces are connected by tiebars which in a complete scaffolding assembly constitute a climbingladder.

The invention also consists in a scaffolding framework structureincluding a plurality of frame units as aforesaid mounted parallel withone another and connected inter alia by horizontal transverse strutseach having a flattened end portion formed with a claw recess whichmatches and is adapted to embrace the flattened end portions of thecross members of the frame units.

In the accompanying drawings there is illustrated by way of exampleonly, a particular and at present preferred frame unit according to theinvention, components for use therewith, and also a framework structureincorporating such frame units connected together. In these drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of a frame unit;

FIGURE 2 shows a bracing lock;

FIGURE 3 shows a spigot coupling;

FIGURE 4 is an end view of the coupling shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 shows a transverse diagonal bracing;

FIGURE 6 shows a horizontal strut;

FIGURE 7 shows a short spacer tube;

FIGURES shows a vertical tie;

FIGURE 9 is a detailed view showing connections between adjoining frameunits;

FIGURE 10 shows a jack including a base plate;

FIGURE 11 shows a jack including a saddle plate;

FIGURE 12 shows a trestle framework incorporating frame units accordingto the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings and first to FIGURE 1 each frame unit isof rectangular outline and comprises a pair of parallel tubes orstandards 1 which in use are vertical, connected together at their endsby two parallel tubes or transoms 2 of lesser diameter each having hot3,323,271 Patented June 6, 1967 or cold formed ends 2a which areflattened in the plane of the frame unit and secured by welding to thestandards 1. Each end 2a has a stop member 2b on its side.

Each frame unit as aforesaid is stiffened by a pair of diagonal crossedflat bars 3 which are welded together at their crossing point and eachof which is Welded at its ends to the respective standards 1.

The two flat bars are also connected together by a pair of shorthorizontal tubular bars 4 secured by welding and situated one above andone below the crossing point. These bars serve as ladder rungs tofacilitate ascent and descent of frame unit assemblies.

Slidably mounted on each transom 2 are a pair of bracing locks 5 whichare for the purpose of retaining on the flattened ends of the transoms 2the horizontal and diagonal members by which adjoining frame units areconnected and braced together as hereinafter described. Each suchbracing lock 5, as shown in FIGURE 2, is in the form of an ovoidalshaped plate formed with a keyhole aperture 5a.

For supporting one frame unit directly upon another spigot couplings 6(FIGURES 3 and 4) inserted into the top and bottom ends of respectivelyaligned standards are used.

Each spigot coupling 6 comprises two tube stubs 9 each connected by fourequally spaced external rods 10 to a central dividing plate 11 ofincreased diameter compared with the diameter of the circle defined bythe outside of the rods which is just smaller than the internal diameterof the standards 1.

A pair of frame units or frame unit assemblies as aforesaid are intendedto be erected parallel with each other and braced together by diagonalbracing members 7 to form a three dimensional framework system.

These diagonal bracing members as shown in FIGURE 5 are flat bars havinga co-planar claw plate 7a welded to each end, the side aspect of oneplate being inverted compared with the side aspect of the other. Oneinclined end edge of each claw plate is formed with a parallel sidedopening 7b leading to a substantially semi-elliptical recess 7c thecentre of which is oifset from the axis of the bar.

Each bracing member 7 is fitted by causing the recesses .70 in the clawplates to embrace transoms 2 of the respective frame units and thensliding the bracing member laterally until the recesses fit over theflattened ends 2a of the transoms.

In addition to these bracing members horizontal spacing struts 8, asshown in FIGURE 6 are used for maintaining frame units or frame unitassemblies at a predetermined distance apart. These spacing struts takethe form of tubes having flattened ends into which claw plates arewelded. These claw plates 8a have openings 8b and recesses 8c identicalwith those in the claw plates 7a of the bracing members 7 except thatthe axes of the recesses 3c and the centre of the openings 8b theretolie on the tube axis. FIGURE 7 shows a short spacer tube 10 of the sameconstruction.

The horizontal spacing struts 8 and the tubes 12 are coupled between thetransoms 2 of adjacent frame units in a manner strictly analogous to thecoupling of the bracing members 7, that is for instance by fitting theclaw plate recesses over the transoms 2 and sliding the struts 8 untilthe recesses fit over the flattened ends 2a of the transoms.

In FIGURE 8 there is shown a vertical tie piece 12 having hooked ends12a for the purpose of tying together the two parallel and adjacenttransoms of a pair of endwise coupled frame units. A typical assembly offrame units with adjacent standards 1 coupled by a spigot coupling 6 andadjacent transoms 2 coupled by a vertical tie piece 12 is illustrated inFIGURE 9. This figure also shows 1 530 the mode of connection of a pairof diagonal bracing members 7 and a pair of hoizontal spacing struts 8and also the mode of operation of the bracing locks 5 which are slidablealong the transoms 2, inverted and then passed over the flattened ends2a so that the narrow part of the keyhole slot 5a lies on one side orthe other of the stop 2b depending on the number of members engaged overthe flattened end.

FIGURE 10 illustrates a jack for supporting a frame unit on the groundor some other supporting surface The jack comprises, in conventionalmanner, a base plate 13 welded to an externally threaded tube 14 whichis a sliding fit Within a frame unit standard 1 and carries a jackoperating nut 15 on which the end of the standard is supported and whichis rotatable to raise or lower the standard, for instance to compensatefor an uneven or sloping ground surface.

FIGURE 11 illustrates a jack of similar type to the one shown in FIGURE10 but intended for operation in an analagous manner at the top of aframe unit standard 1 for which purpose a saddle plate 16 is welded tothe externally threaded tube 17 which is inserted into the standard andon which the jack operating nut 18 is mounted.

FIGURE 12 illustrates a trestle embodying six frame units and othercomponents as above described.

The provision of flattened ends on the horizontal members or transoms ofthe frame unit when these members are tubular, may be effected invarious ways. For instance steel plates could be Welded to the ends ofthe tubes or small strips or lugs could be welded on to the top andbottom of the tubes. Alternatively the sides of the tubes may becrimped, or the tubes may be partially flattened in the normal mannerwhen making a tube totube connection.

In an alternative form of transverse horizontal strut the claw plateshave recesses which are offset from the strut axis and downwardly openso that they may be dropped into engagement with the flattened endportions of the transoms of the adjoining frame units.

The invention is applicable not only to rectangular outlined frames, butto H-frarnes, arch type or ladder type frames, or any other type ofscaffolding frame. The invention can also be used in the construction oftemporary tubular structures, such as shelters, buildings, road barriersand so forth.

The horizontal and diagonal members for coupling together adjacentframes can be of tubular or any other suitable section.

The principal advantage of the present invention is that it has beenfound to permit an appreciable saving in construction by virtue of theabsence of special clamps and so forth and a subsidiary advantage isthat the construction permits not only of the diagonal bracing of theframe itself, but the reduction of secondary bending moments to aminimum by virtue of the external bracing ties and struts beingconnected nearer the nodal points than is possible with conventionalframework systems.

I claim:

1. A flat prefabricated frame unit for incorporation in a metalframework system comprising a pair of parallel uprights which arepermanently connected by at least one cross-member extendingperpendicular thereto, each said cross-member having enlarged endportions which are flattened in the plane of the frame unit forsupporting the ends of additional members by which adjoining frame unitsare connectable to one another, and means mounted on the cross-membersfor preventing sliding movement of said additional members, each saidsliding movement preventing means being composed of stop meansprojecting substantially perpendicularly from said flattened enlargedend portions out of the plane of the frame unit and lock plate means,each said lock plate means having a keyhole slot comprising a firstaperture communicating with a reduced width aperture, said lock platemeans being adapted to slidably receive the cross-member intermediateits length in said first aperture, the width of said reduced widthaperture being at least equal to the width of said flattened enlargedend portions so that when said flattened enlarged end portions supportaddition members, said lock plate means can be moved along thecrossmember in said first aperture to an enlarged end portion, thenmoved onto said enlarged end portion in said first aperture and part ofsaid reduced width aperture and then moved downwardly behind the stopmeans thus preventing sliding movement of said additional membersadjacent said lock plate means.

2. A frame work system comprising a plurality of flat frame units, eachhaving a pair of parallel uprights which are permanently connected by atleast one cross-member extending perpendicular thereto, eachsaid-cross-member having enlarged end portions which are flattened inthe plane of the frame unit, said flat frame units being connectedtogether by rods having claw portions at their ends engaging over theflat enlarged end portions of the crossmembers, said cross-membershaving means mounted thereon for preventing accidental disengagement ofsaid rods from said flat enlarged end portions, and claw plates forengaging the end portions of adjacent cross-members of flat frame unitsarranged in endwise connected relationship for tying together saidadjacent cross-members.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,676,161 7/1928 Schiller et al52638 X 2,665,950 1/1954 Johnson 52637 2,765,200 10/1956 Moyer 52-6373,190,405 6/1965 Squire 52 637 FOREIGN PATENTS 527,892 7/ 1956 Canada.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

R. S. VERMUT, Assistant Examiner.

1. A FLAT PREFABRICATED FRAME UNIT FOR INCORPORATION IN A METAL FRAMEWORK SYSTEM COMPRISING A PAIR OF PARALLEL UPRIGHTS WHICH ARE PERMANENTLY CONNECTED BY AT LEAST ONE CROSS-MEMBER EXTENDING PERPENDICULAR THERETO, EACH SAID CROSS-MEMBER HAVING ENLARGED END PORTIONS WHICH ARE FLATTENED IN THE PLANE OF THE FRAME UNIT FOR SUPPORTING THE ENDS OF ADDITIONAL MEMBERS BY WHICH ADJOINING FRAME UNITS ARE CONNECTABLE TO ONE ANOTHER, AND MEANS MOUNTED ON THE CROSS-MEMBERS FOR PREVENTING SLIDING MOVEMENT OF SAID ADDITIONAL MEMBERS, EACH SAID SLIDING MOVEMENT PREVENTING MEANS BEING COMPOSED OF STOP MEANS PROJECTING SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULARLY FROM SAID FLATTENED ENLARGED END PORTIONS OUT OF THE PLANE OF THE FRAME UNIT AND LOCK PLATE MEANS, EACH SAID LOCK PLATE MEANS HAVING A KEYHOLE SLOT COMPRISING A FIRST APERTURE COMMUNICATING WITH A REDUCED WIDTH APERTURE, SAID LOCK PLATE MEANS BEING ADAPTED TO SLIDABLY RECEIVE THE CROSS-MEMBER INTERMEDIATE ITS LENGTH IN SAID FIRST APERTURE, THE WIDTH OF SAID REDUCED WIDTH APERTURE BEING AT LEAST EQUAL TO THE WIDTH OF SAID FLATTENED ENLARGED END PORTIONS SO THAT WHEN SAID FLATTENED ENLARGED END PORTIONS SUPPORT ADDITION MEMBERS, SAID LOCK PLATE MEANS CAN BE MOVED ALONG THE CROSSMEMBER IN SAID FIRST APERTURE TO AN ENLARGED END PORTION, THEN MOVED ONTO SAID ENLARGED END PORTION IN SAID FIRST APERTURE AND PART OF SAID REDUCED WIDTH APERTURE AND THEN MOVED DOWNWARDLY BEHIND THE STOP MEANS THUS PREVENTING SLIDING MOVEMENT OF SAID ADDITIONAL MEMBERS ADJACENT SAID LOCK PLATE MEANS. 